PowerPro - good news

backhertz · Post by **backhertz** » Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:58 pm

I received my Power Pro on Saturday. I was surprised because I had called to delay it. But it is here! My serial number is 5009 on the electronics module and a date of 9/2/2010 on the stick on label. The bottom of the shipping box took a licking as only one staple was barely holding the bottom of the box together. I wrote Customer Service & suggested they put a layer of strapping tape to protect the staples from being pulled out.

I was surprised to see a new quill & idler shaft in the upgrade kit. I rebuilt all my head stocks except for a Greenie that was given to me. My family used to be in the roller skating rink business and I became experienced in maintaining sealed bearings. My plan is to set up a wood shop with Shopsmiths set up as SPTs except for my 520. I have 5 Model Vs and 4 or 5 Model 10E/ERs. I have a couple of powerful DC motors for the 10E/ERs. Two of the older Shopsmiths have already been restored & all have speed changers, I believe.

It's gonna be a short time before I can install the Power Pro. I'm starting to think of ideas on how to modify the mod or find DVR motors for my other Model Vs. lol

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 3:51 pm

WooHoo. Mine arrived today.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 2:06 am

Can anyone shed any light as to the country of manufacture???

8iowa · Post by **8iowa** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:01 am

FedEx delivered my PowerPro "in da U.P. eh" yesterday afternoon at about 4:40 PM. I haven't had a chance to open the box yet. The truck has a long route all the way from Escanaba, 45 miles distant. A cute little gal was driving the truck and she actually lifted and carried the box to the garage door.

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:08 am

a1gutterman wrote:Can anyone shed any light as to the country of manufacture???

Why would this matter? Shopsmith is not going to change sources at this time. The motor and controller was originally used in the Nova DVR XP lathe. See (http://www.teknatool.com/products/lathe ... _DVRXP.htm) for more information. This is a very trouble free and excellant upgrade for the Shopsmith.

backhertz · Post by **backhertz** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:28 pm

Teknatool is a company out of New Zealand, I believe. They list New Zealand, China, and the USA as company locations.
http://www.teknatool.com/about%20us.htm

A quick search on Google shows they are the only company I could find that makes a DVR motor. I find it amazing how well the new motor and power supply assembly fit in the headstock.

I have a couple of heavy duty DC motors which fit perfectly on a 10E/ER motor mount. I've only seen one picture of a guy who mounted a DC motor in a Mark V and still used the sheave pulley assemblies- it wasn't easy. Whoever came up with the idea to chuck the sheaves and speed control assembly and find a much more powerful & faster motor is a genius in my book. It's been my experience that it is much more easier to build something new than it is to retrofit or renovate something old as it is what it is...

I imagine it is only a matter of time before the Power Pro upgrade is reviewed. The list of pros is a long one. The list of cons will be a short with price being one of them. However, one has to look at what they're getting- a new headstock that is far more powerful and no longer requires any speed attachments and has fewer mechanical parts to wear out.

I remember a thread from a number of years ago- 2006, 2007? It talked about what an ideal Shopsmith headstock would be capable of. I believe the Power Pro is it.

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:48 pm

Installed my PowerPro headstock about an hour ago. All I can say is WOW. Smooth, quiet, and the increase in speed range is GREAT. Can't wait to make some sawdust this weekend.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:37 pm

I sure hope that this is the magic key that puts Shopsmith in the black and allows them to move ahead. It gives that appearance. It would sure be nice for them to be able to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and again become fully staffed and out in the public again. I would also hope that they could return to having a factory store.
Those of you that are getting them keep us posted as to what you think and if they are going to need any debugging (a lot of new innovations do).
I don't really expect to be ready to order one at least until after the first of the year. Right now the horse operation is getting all of the available $ infusion. It should be well in the black before Xmas and I will probably be ready to start some heavy wishing about then.

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:39 pm

Photos guys, PLEASE.......photos!!!!!

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:53 pm

Mike, I would LOVE to be able to post one, but my son keeps borrowing my DSLR and forgetting to return it. He borrowed it because he went to Chicago for the weekend. He and the DIL came over for dinner tonight, but do you think he could remember to bring back the camera?